Counting means



Nov. 13, 1962 A. F SHIELDS 3,063,577

COUNTING MEANS Filed May 12, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. 1455,97 EJ/fi'los Nov. 13, 1962 s s 3,063,577

COUNTING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1959.

- INVENTOR. 4455a? A 5/05405 United States Patent 3,063,577 COUNTWGMEANS Albert F. Shields, Forest Hills, N.Y., assignor to 8; S CorrugatedPaper Machinery Company, Inc., Brooklyn, NY.

Filed May 12, 1959, Ser. No. 812,703 12 Claims. (Cl. 214-6) The instantinvention is an improvement of the stacking, straightening and deliverydevice described in my copending application Serial No. 775,199, filedNovember 20, 1958, now Patent No. 2,931,520, and assigned to .theassignee of the instant invention. More particularly, this invention isdirected to novel means for delivering stacks having equal numbers offolded tubular boxes from the device of my aforesaid copendingapplication.

In the device of my aforesaid copending application two sets ofhorizontally spaced continuously moving belts are utilized as thestacking and straightening means for box blanks which have been operatedupon by a high speed folding and gluing machine. As the folded and gluedboxes leave the folding machine they are traveling at high speed in ahorizontal path. The moving belts are positioned with upwardly movingflights disposed to intercept the boxes as they move in this horizontalpath thereby arresting their horizontal movement and imparting an upwardvertical movement thereto. Thus, the leading and trailing edges of thefolded, glued blanks are engaged by the upwardly moving belt flights sothat the blanks remain in a horizontal position and form a stack whichis fed from below.

A delivery device, coordinated with the operation of both the foldingmachine and stacking device, is included to periodically remove a pileof blanks from the top of the stack and deliver the pile to a horizontalconveyor.

It has been found that in large runs, say of 10,000 boxes, the deliverydevice will have delivered the desired total number within the limits ofplus or minus one blank. While this is an extremely small overall error,it has been found that the individual piles, say of 20 blanks each,which go to make up the total of 10,000 blanks may also be off by plusor minus one blank. The one blank error in 20 can be extremely annoyingand must be eliminated.

The counting error at the delivery device is attributable to the factthat the folded blanks leaving the folding machine are not all in thesame condition. That is, some blanks require more straightening thanother blanks. Because of this the engagement of the leading and trailingedges of each blank by the upwardly moving belt flights does not occurat the same time so that the blanks in the straightening device stackare not uniformly spaced. Since the delivery device merely removes saythe top 12 inch portion of the stack rather than a predetermined numberof blanks, the pile removed from the stack does not necessarily containthe desired number of blanks.

The device of the instant invention overcomes the undesirablecharacteristic which has previously been noted by including novel meansfor maintaining a predeter mined spacing between the blanks of thestack. This is accomplished by providing a set of screws which arearranged in a manner such that the longitudinally extending edges of thefolded tubular boxes are engaged by the screw threads as the blanksemerge from the folding machine into the straightening device. Thescrews are single threaded and are rotated at a speed whereby they makea single revolution for each blank delivered by the folding machine. Thescrews are vertically arranged so that they move one box upwardly onepitch per revolution. This upward movement of the boxes is independentof whether or not the leading and trailing edges thereof are engaged bythe upwardly moving belt flights.

At the top of the set of screws which corresponds with the top of thestraightening section, the straightened boxes are pushed off by thedelivery device as in my aforesaid copending application. However, nowsince there is .a precise number of boxes rising in the straighteningsection there will also be an exact number of boxes in the pile that isbeing delivered from the top of the stack.

The screw threads are of uniform pitch from the tops thereof downwardfor substantially the entire lengths thereof. However, the thread pitchin the area which initially engages the folded tubular boxes isconsiderably greater than the pitch of the remaining screw. length. TheWide pitch provides a wide entrance for the folded boxes entering thestraightening device. Thus, any slight variation or lack of coordinationbetween the folding and straightening device Will not interfere with theoperation of the device.

The addition of the vertically extending screws pro vides an additionaladvantage of which accrues from lifting each blank as it arrives in thestraightening device prior to the arrival of the next succeeding blank.That is, in the device of my aforesaid copending application the initiallift of the blank is supplied by the next succeeding blank forcing itsway to the bottom of the stack. Thus, the bottom blank rubs against theblank thereabove and in so doing very often causes the smearing of ink,forming printed matter, which has not fully dried. Smearing of undriedink will not occur in the device of the instant invention since norubbing takes place between blanks as the blocks enter the stackingsection.

Accordingly, a primary object of the instant invention is to providenovel means for assuring that the piles delivered from a boxstraightening device will each contain a predetermined number of boxes.

Another object is to provide novel means for raising the blanks of ablank stacking and straightening device.

These as well as other objects of the instant invention shall becomereadily apparent after reading the following description of theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation in schematic form of a stacking,straightening and delivery device which in cludes applicants novel screwmeans for assuring uniformity in the number of blanks which comprise thepiles delivered by the device.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view of the device of FIGURE 1 illustratingthe manner in which motion is imparted to the lifting screws.

FIGURE 3 is a rear view of the pusher plate.

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the flexible front guide means.

FIGURE 5 is a perspective view of a blank folded to form a collapsedtubular box.

Now referring to the figures, driving power is supplied to the mechanismillustrated in FIGURE 1 by variable speed electric motor 10 which mayalso drive the preceding mechanism such as folding and gluing machine11. Drive sprocket 12 keyed to the output shaft of motor 10 acts throughchain 13 to drive sprocket 14. Sprockets 14 and 15 are keyed to the sameshaft (not shown) so as to rotate in unison. Rotation of sprocket 15causes movement of chain 16 which passes over sprocket 17, beneathsprocket 18, over sprocket 1?, to the left and below sprocket 20, andabove sprocket 21.

Sprockets 18 and 22 are keyed to a common shaft (not shown). Chain 24driven by sprocket 22 drives sprocket 2S, keyed to the same shaft asdrive sprocket 26 which drives conveyor belt 27. Belt 27 is generallyhorizontal in the region between drive sprocket 26 and idler sprocket28. After passing over sprocket 28 conveyor belt 27 takes a pronounceddip by passing beneath idler 29 and thence upwardly around idler 30,Conveyor 27 is generally horizontal in the region between idlers 30 and31 and is slightly raised above the horizontal portion of belt 27between sprocket 26 and idler 28. After passing to the right (withrespect to FIGURE 1) of idler 31, belt 27 passes beneath idlers 31 and32 thereafter moving upwardly and to the left about drive sprocket 26.

Sprocket 23, keyed to the same shaft (not shown) as sprocket 20, driveschain 33 which in turn drives sprocket 34. Sprocket 35, keyed to thesame shaft (not shown) as sprocket 20, drives chain 33 which in turndrives sprocket 34. Sprocket 35, keyed to the same shaft (not shown) assprocket 34, drives chain 36 which supplies driving power to variablespeed drive unit 37. Unit 37 in turn supplies the driving power to thedelivery mechanism 40 as fully explained in my copending application645,801.

Sprocket 41 keyed to the output shaft of motor drives chain 42 which inturn drives fly wheel 43. Chain '44 is driven by sprocket 45 which iskeyed to a common shaft (not shown) with fly wheel 43. Chain 44 passesupwardly to the left from drive sprocket 45 around to the left ofsprocket 46, upwardly and around the top of sprocket 47 then downwardlybeneath sprocket 48.

tively, which are keyed to screws 72, 73, respectively, at the lowerends thereof. Thus, the rotation of transverse shaft 74 causes screws72, 73 to rotate in unison. The lower ends of screws 72, 73 arejournalled by bearings 79, 30, respectively, which are mounted withinbrackets 81, 82, respectively, extending inwardly from transverselyadjustable frame members 83, 84, respectively. The up- Between idlersprockets 48 and 49 chain 44 is generally horizontal. Chain 44 thenpasses upwardly and to the right of idler 49 and another sprocket 50. Inpassing between sprockets 49 and 50 chain 44is in operative engagementwith sprocket 51 so as to cause rotation thereof. Chain 44 passesdownwardly from the right side of sprocket 50 to the left and beneathsprocket S2 thence to the right around sprocket 53. Chain 44 isgenerally horizontal in the region between sprockets 53 and 54 and afterpassing above and to the left of sprocket 54 chain 44 passes to theright and beneath drive sprocket 45.

The rotation of sprocket .47 causes rotation of shaft 55 having sprocket56' keyed thereto. Sprocket 56 imparts motion to rear belt means 57 asfully explained in my copending application Serial No. 775,199, filedNovember 20, 1958, and entitled Accumulating and Straightening Device.Similarly, sprocket 51 is mounted to shaft 58 having sprocket 59keyed'thereto with sprocket 59 imparting motion to the forward beltmeans 60.

V Belt means 57 and 60 include upwardly moving flights 61, 62,respectively, which engage the trailing 62 and leading 63 edges offolded tubular box 64 as folded and glued box blank 64 moves through themechanism from left to right with respect to FIGURE 1, or in thedirection indicated by. arrow A of FIGURE 5. The region between beltmeans 57 and 60 is designated as the stacking region since the foldedtubular boxes 64 after moving horizontally on conveyor 27 have thehorizontal movement thereof arrested and changed to a vertical movementwhereby stack'65 is formed. Straightening of boxes 64 occurs in thestacking region since flights 61, 62 converge slightly as from bottom totop as fully explained in my aforesaid copending application 775,199.

Periodically, pusher device 66, which includes pusher plate 67, as itmoves from left to right (with respect to FIGURE 1) in a loweredposition engages the top portion of stack 65 so as to remove a pile ofblanks 65a therefrom.

Chains 6 8 and 69, driven by variable speed drive 37 through chain 70,impart oscillatory motion to pusher means 66 whereby pusher 66 movesfrom left to right in a lowered position and from right to left in araised position as fully explained in my aforesaid copending applicaperends of screws 72, 73 are journalled in bearings 85, 86 carried bybrackets 87, 88, respectively, extending inwardly from frame members 83,84, respectively;

As is apparent from FIGURE 2 the threads which accupy a majority of thelength of each of the screws 72, .73 are of a uniform pitch B. However,at their lower ends the threads of screws 72, 73 are opened out to apitch C which is considerably larger than pitch B.

As a blank 64 is fed from mechanism 11 to the right, blank 64 is engagedby upper pressure roller 89 which is keyed to a common shaft withsprocket 19. The cooperation of roller 89 and conveyor belt 27 movesblank 64 to the right through the space formed between the lower end ofrear belt means 57 and conveyor 27 with the side edges 90, 91 of blank'64 thereafter entering the spaces between the threads of wide pitch C.Screws 72 and 73 are rotating in such a direction that the threadsthereof will impart a lifting action to blanks 64 as they enter thestacking region even before the leading and trailing edges 63, 62 areengaged by upwardly moving belt flights 62, 61.

Typically, each of the screws 72, 73 are of five inch diameter withthread pitch B being equal to of an inch and the opened thread pitch Cbeing equal to 2% inches so as to be capable of accepting severelywarped blanks 64. Flights 61, 62 of belt means 57, 60, respectviely, arethen operated to rise at a rate of Vs of an inch for each blank 64received from machine 11. Screws 72, 73 rotate through one revolutionfor each blank 64 received from machine 11. In this manner screws 72, 73cooperate to raise the blanks 6.4 at the same rate as they are beingraised through the cooperation of flights 61, 62.

As blanks 64 move upwardly in stack 65 they are substantially equallyspaced apart by the thread pitch distance B. Because of this apredetermined number of blanks will move post the top of lift screws 72,73 in a given time so that pusher means 66 will always remove a pile 65acontaining a predetermined number of blanks 64, The expression past thetop of lift screws refers to the region above the top of'the screwthreads.

Pusher plate 67 has pivotally mounted thereto peripherally groovedwheels 101-104. The grooves of Wheels 101 -104 receive the longitudinaledges of support plate 105 and'because of this pusher plate 67 may bemoved vertically relative to support plate 105. Bars 106, 107- extendingoutwardly from support plate 105 at the bottom thereof limit thedownward movement of pusher plate 67. Aligned grooves 108, 109' insupport plate 105 and pusher plate 67, respectively, provide a clearanceopening for flexible hold-down strips 110, 111 which apply a downwardpressure to stack 65 even while pile 65a is being removed from the topthereof.

Rearward extensions 112, at the bottom of pusher plate 67, are adaptedto ride upon fixedly mounted guide members 113 which are positionedrearwardly of belt flight 61 in line with the tops of the threadedportions of screws 72, 73. The cooperation of members 112, 113 furtherassures that the initial engagement between pusher plate 67 and'stack 65occurs at a timewhen the top portion 65a thereof, which is to beremoved, is comprised of a predetermined number of blanks 64.

As explained in my aforesaid copending application Serial No. 645,801,now Patent No. 2,963,177, flexible front guide means'2ll0, comprisingflexible strips 201- 203 secured to frame member 204, is positionedatthe leading edge of the stack at approximately the level of thecontinuously driven by means of sprocket 17. Sprocket 7 His keyed totransverse shaft 74 having bevelled gears 75, 76 keyed thereto drivingbevelled gears 77, 78, respectop of lift screws'72, 73. Front guidemeans 200 acts to effectively holdback the portion of stack 65 not beingremoved by pusher plate 67.

Thus, I have provided novel means, including rotatable lift screws, forraising blanks in a stacking, straightening device in a manner such thateach pile 65a delivered from the device will be comprised of a precisenumber of blanks.

Although the present invention has been described in connection withexemplary embodiments thereof, variations and modifications thereofwithin the broader spirit and scope of the invention will now beapparent to those skilled in the art, and it is not intended to belimited except as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meanscontinuously operated in a single direction and disposed at saidstacking region operatively positioned to engage said blanks as theyenter said stacking region; said last recited means being constructed toimpart upward movement to each individual one of said blanks prior toand during the upward movement attributable to the cooperation of saidfirst and said second belt means.

2. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a fiat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; said accumulating device including a first and a second belt means each havingupwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stacking region toengage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of said blanksthereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and means continuouslyoperated in a single direction and disposed at said stacking regionoperatively positioned to engage said blanks as they enter said stackingregion; said last recited means being constructed to impart upwardmovement to each individual one of said blanks prior to and during theupward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first and saidsecond belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads.

3. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region; said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below.

4. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use-witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively posi: tioned above said conveyor to formsaid blank-s into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region; said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; said set of screws being operativelypositioned to engage said blanks at the side edges thereof.

5. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region; said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; said set of screws being operativelypositioned to engage said blanks at the side edges thereof; said set ofscrews being rotated through one revolution for each blank issuing fromsaid machine.

6. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stack ingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region; said lastrecited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; the upward movement of said belt, therotational speed of said set of screws, and the first thread pitch beingproportioned in a manner such that said upwardly moving flights movesaid blanks upward at the same rate as the portions of said set ofscrews having the first thread pitch.

7. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region;'said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; a pusher plate positioned above saidfirst and said second belt means and periodically engageable with a topportion of said stack for removal thereof.

8. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box 7 blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively; of saidblanksthereby imparting upward movement to 'said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking regionoperatively positioned to engage saidblanks-as they enter said stacking region; said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks priorto and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said'blanksin the spaces between screw threads;

each screw of said set of screws having a uniform first thread pitch fora majority of the length thereof; each of said screws having a secondthread pitch substantially greater than'said first thread pitch; saidsecond thread pitch being in the portion of the screw length whichinitially contacts said blanks as they enter said stack from below; apusher plate positioned above said first and said second belt means andperiodically engageable with a top portion of said stack for removalthereof; said top 7 portion of said stack comprising blanks which haverisen above the top of said set of screws. i

9. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for use witha machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a fiat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they enter said stacking region, said last recited means beingconstructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to and duringthe upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said first andsaid second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set ofvertically extending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; a pusher piate positioned above saidfirst and said second belt means and periodically engageable with a topportion of said stack for removal thereof; a fixedly mounted memberpositioned adjacent to the top of said second belt means; said pusherplate including a rearwardly extending portion movable into engagementwith said fixedly mounted member for guidance thereby during the initialengagement between said pusher plate and said top portion of said stack.

10. A stacking, straightening and delivery mechanism adapted for usewith a machine for operating on box blanks; said mechanism comprising ahorizontal conveyor operable in synchronism with said machine to receiveblanks issuing therefrom in a flat position; an intercepting andaccumulating device operatively positioned above said conveyor to formsaid blanks into a stack which is fed from the bottom thereof; saidaccumulating device including a first and a second belt means eachhaving upwardly moving flights operatively positioned at a stackingregion to engage the leading and trailing edges, respectively, of saidblanks thereby imparting upward movement to said blanks; and meansdisposed at said stacking region operatively positioned to engage saidblanks as they. enter said stacking region; said last recited meansbeing constructed to impart upward movement to said blanks prior to andduring the upward movement attributable to the cooperation of said firstand said second belt means; said last recited means comprising a set of.verticallyextending rotatable screws positioned to receive said blanksin the spaces between screw threads; each screw of said'set of screwshaving a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of the lengththereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitch substantiallygreater than said first thread pitch; said second thread pitch being inthe portion of the screw length which initially contacts said blanks asthey enter said stack from below; a pusher plate positioned above saidfirst and said second belt means and periodically engageable with a topportion of said stack for removal thereof; driving means synchronizingthe operation of and imparting con tinuous movement to said first beltmeans, said second 'belt means, said set of screws, and said pusherplate.

11. In combination a first means, and a second means for conveyingarticles in single file in a generally horizontal delivery path to saidfirst means; said first means comprising a first screw disposed on oneside of the center of said delivery path and a second screw disposed onthe other side of the center of said delivery path; means connectedbetween said first and said second means for rotating said screws andoperating said second means in a coordinated manner; said screws beingvertically extending and operatively positioned to receive side edges ofarticles, delivered by said second means, in the spaces between screwthreads; said screws after receiving an article imparting an upwardmovement thereto forming said articles into an underfed stack; each ofsaid screws having a uniform first thread pitch for a majority of thelength thereof; each of said screws having a second thread pitchsubstantially greater than said first thread pitch; said second threadpitch being in the position of the screw length which initially contactsarticles fed by said second means; and a delivery device connected tosaid first and said second means for coordinated operation therewith;said delivery device periodically passing over said first means fromrear to front and thereby engaging and removing from the top of saidstack a portion thereof which has cleared the tops of said screws, guidemeans positioned at the tops of said screws to the rear of said stack;said guide means being engaged by said de livery device to form asupport therefor at the time when said feed delivery device initiallyengages said portion of said stack. I

12. The combination of claim 11 in which the delivery device is incontinuous operation moving from rear to front in a first path which islower than a second path in which said delivery device moves from frontto rear.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,006,844 Smith July 2, 1935 2,072,318 Stand-e Mar. 2, 1937 2,338,055Pearson et al. Dec. 28, 1943 2,498,071 Dalziel et al. Feb. 21, 19502,556,214 Pottle June 12, 1951 2,569,039 Berthelot Sept. 25, 19512,634,001 Grifiin Apr. 7, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 38,185 Denmark Nov. 16,1927

